woman followed her gaze. “Kirynn is a combination of natural affinity and extreme training. No one trains like the Boromari. Not even their nearest neighbor, Kanther. Which is why Kanther is losing. One wonders why they would choose to pick a fight with Boromar. The Boromari are generally a peaceful nation. They don’t invade other nations but they vigorously defend what is theirs.”
Maleena watched Kirynn slip past an attack by Vaddoc and deliver a solid blow to Vaddoc. “How do they train?”
“At the age of six, all Boromari children go to weapons training.” Emallya paused to brush away the hair tossed into her face by the breeze. “They are not treated harshly. They have warm comfortable beds, good food, warm water to bathe with, and everything they need. They are required to spend a month in training. At the end of a month if they wish to go home they may. However, if they choose to stay, they must complete an entire year of training. Boys and girls are housed together. They do everything together. Eat, sleep, bathe, train, everything.
Emallya shifted forward, drawing her legs up. “At the end of the year, any who want to go home may do so. Again, any that wish to stay are committed to another year. Each year they have that choice until they reach the age of ten at which time they must commit to two years. Only those that are truly doing well are asked to stay.
“At twelve they are determined old enough to no longer need the coddling of small children. They move from the comfortable barracks to the interim barracks, where there are only hard cots for sleeping and cold water for bathing. After two years of that, they can again choose to go home. Any that stay must do so for the next six years when the training is finished.”
Emallya watched Kirynn land another blow on Vaddoc. “They are fourteen then and move to the intermediate barracks, which really aren’t barracks at all. They are issued small tents and cook pots to simulate battlefield conditions. They are often required to sleep without tent or bedroll. It is a matter of pride to graduate from the cots and protective walls of the actual barracks. Warm food is provided, but they are expected to live off the land as much as possible. Few take the provided food. Although they will face no recriminations from their trainers, they will from their peers. Their age-mates will poke fun at them and generally make it undesirable. A lack of ability in living off the land translates to a lack of ability overall to their age-mates.”
Maleena listened to Emallya while she watched Kirynn’s tireless sparing with Vaddoc. “Do many children stay?”
Emallya smiled. “Enough. To complete the training is considered the highest honor in Boromar. The children are fed that with their mother’s milk. From the age of six, Kirynn has eaten, slept, and breathed weapons and training with them. Her days were consumed with it. Vaddoc is bigger and stronger, but the Boromari teach women and smaller men how to compensate for that. The only danger to Kirynn is another Boromari soldier. And then only if a Dragon Rider. Kirynn is much faster and stronger than anyone who is unbonded.”
Maleena drew her knees up, wrapping her arms around them. “So I’m doomed to always be worthless with a sword?”
Emallya shook her head. “Eventually, you will get better if you keep at it. Even I got better. It only took about a hundred years, but I did succeed in becoming a master with the sword.”
Maleena glared at the practice sword lying in the grass. “I don’t know why I am even bothering to take a sword with me.”
“You are good enough to take on someone of middling skill. Especially with your bond-heightened strength and speed.”
Maleena gazed at the older woman for a long time, trying to imagine a young Emallya before the call. One who wanted a husband and lots of babies. “You got more than a husband, you got a bondmate. Did you ever get any of the babies you
Maleena watched Kirynn slip past an attack by Vaddoc and deliver a solid blow to Vaddoc. “How do they train?”
“At the age of six, all Boromari children go to weapons training.” Emallya paused to brush away the hair tossed into her face by the breeze. “They are not treated harshly. They have warm comfortable beds, good food, warm water to bathe with, and everything they need. They are required to spend a month in training. At the end of a month if they wish to go home they may. However, if they choose to stay, they must complete an entire year of training. Boys and girls are housed together. They do everything together. Eat, sleep, bathe, train, everything.
Emallya shifted forward, drawing her legs up. “At the end of the year, any who want to go home may do so. Again, any that wish to stay are committed to another year. Each year they have that choice until they reach the age of ten at which time they must commit to two years. Only those that are truly doing well are asked to stay.
“At twelve they are determined old enough to no longer need the coddling of small children. They move from the comfortable barracks to the interim barracks, where there are only hard cots for sleeping and cold water for bathing. After two years of that, they can again choose to go home. Any that stay must do so for the next six years when the training is finished.”
Emallya watched Kirynn land another blow on Vaddoc. “They are fourteen then and move to the intermediate barracks, which really aren’t barracks at all. They are issued small tents and cook pots to simulate battlefield conditions. They are often required to sleep without tent or bedroll. It is a matter of pride to graduate from the cots and protective walls of the actual barracks. Warm food is provided, but they are expected to live off the land as much as possible. Few take the provided food. Although they will face no recriminations from their trainers, they will from their peers. Their age-mates will poke fun at them and generally make it undesirable. A lack of ability in living off the land translates to a lack of ability overall to their age-mates.”
Maleena listened to Emallya while she watched Kirynn’s tireless sparing with Vaddoc. “Do many children stay?”
Emallya smiled. “Enough. To complete the training is considered the highest honor in Boromar. The children are fed that with their mother’s milk. From the age of six, Kirynn has eaten, slept, and breathed weapons and training with them. Her days were consumed with it. Vaddoc is bigger and stronger, but the Boromari teach women and smaller men how to compensate for that. The only danger to Kirynn is another Boromari soldier. And then only if a Dragon Rider. Kirynn is much faster and stronger than anyone who is unbonded.”
Maleena drew her knees up, wrapping her arms around them. “So I’m doomed to always be worthless with a sword?”
Emallya shook her head. “Eventually, you will get better if you keep at it. Even I got better. It only took about a hundred years, but I did succeed in becoming a master with the sword.”
Maleena glared at the practice sword lying in the grass. “I don’t know why I am even bothering to take a sword with me.”
“You are good enough to take on someone of middling skill. Especially with your bond-heightened strength and speed.”
Maleena gazed at the older woman for a long time, trying to imagine a young Emallya before the call. One who wanted a husband and lots of babies. “You got more than a husband, you got a bondmate. Did you ever get any of the babies you
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